Black Crappie
Pomoxis nigromaculatus
25 black and white crappie combined daily, including hybrids/subspecies; 10-inch minimum.
Gear restriction: Trotlines are prohibited.
Identify your catch
Irregular dark speckling and usually seven or eight dorsal spines distinguish black crappie from white crappie.
Habitat on Lake Pinkston
Clear water with standing timber, hydrilla and lily pads.
Fishing approach
TPWD describes jigs and minnows at shallow spring vegetation, then deeper brush outside the spawn.
Fishing guidance describes documented approaches, not a promise of fish activity today.
Black Crappie: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat. White Crappie: No lake-specific advisory found in the checked DSHS active list. This does not establish that fish are safe to eat.
Harvest permission and eating restrictions are separate.
General species guide
Uses lakes, ponds and slow water, often near submerged cover.
General Black Crappie profile →Sources & lake evidence
Black and white crappie and flathead catfish occurrence is established by TPWD historical lake records. Records do not establish current abundance.
Lake harvest rules ↗Eating guidance ↗Lake habitat & fishing guide ↗Fisheries survey · species evidence ↗Historical lake records · species evidence ↗Species identification ↗